Another chapter already! I'm feeling really inspired by all your reviews, so keep them coming! Let's see if we can reach 30 before I post Chapter 5!
AnimationFan15- Good Guess! Your answer is correct!
moonlightdreamer1- You bet your sweet cupcakes she'll find a better prince! Hope you're on the ball and review first, moonlight!
Sherona849- Yeah, I did say kids. If you read the story description it says 'two daughters,' so that should give you a hint. As for Nancy, wait and see!
NerdAlert8910- Blowing your mind, am I? You're blowing mine with your all caps! Cyber hugs! ;D
Ribes Montana- Now it's my turn to say, I watched the Anastasia trailer a while ago, and I didn't really care for it! Just my opinion, but thanks for sticking with this story even though you don't love Enchanted.
Rosie2009, ABBA1906- Here you go!
The painted lady of the leaf- Yes, this is totally Bergen Town, and I'm so glad you liked the way Poppy gets transported there. I really sweated over that one, so now I feel better. Did I mention I love writing for Smidge as Pip?
SilverG- WHAT? Who do you think I am, a troll? *Looks around nervously* Here you go, please don't hurt me...
DISCLAIMER- I do not own Trolls or Enchanted. Those rights go to their respective owners.
And now, readers and reviewers, I give you-Chaper 4! What? That wasn't what you wanted to hear? Fine...
I give you- BRANCH! Happy now?
Chapter Four- New Friends
High above Poppy, on the side of a tall building, was a sparkling pink castle. It didn't look like the castle in Trolldalasia, true, but it was a castle all the same. Poppy knew that whoever lived there would help her get back home to Creek. She just needed a way to get up there… Glancing around, the pink troll spotted a large metal garbage can, which she clambered on top of. Above her, she spotted a metal ladder leading up to the platform in front of the castle. Pulling herself onto the narrow space, Poppy hurried to the large purple front doors. She badly wanted to rush inside and dry off, but she knew that would not be polite, so she knocked loudly.
"Hello?" she cried. "Is anyone home?" No answer. She knocked harder, thinking maybe the occupants couldn't hear her. "Hello?"
Not far away from Poppy, three trolls were walking home together. The tallest troll had dull grey skin, pointed ears, and coal black hair, with electric blue eyes which contrasted sharply to the rest of his appearance. He wore a dark green vest and brown shorts covered in green patches. On either side of him was a short female troll, holding one of his hands. The two little girls were conjoined twins, their connected hair stretching around their father's back. One twin was a periwinkle blue with rose pink eyes, and she wore a lavender and cream coloured dress. The other girl was light pink with sky blue eyes, wearing a leotard and legwarmers the same colours as her twin's outfit. They both had hair that changed from blue, to pale purple, to pink where it joined, and gemstone earrings.
"Daddy?" the blue troll asked. "Why wouldn't you let us buy that book of fairytales at the store today?" The gray troll stopped and kneeled down so he could see into his daughter's eyes. He sighed.
"Because, Chenille, I need you two to learn that life isn't all dreams coming true and happy endings. Bad things happen sometimes." The little girl looked at the ground.
"But Mom always said dreams do come true." The pink twin said softly. Her father looked around helplessly.
"I know she did, but that just isn't the way things ar-"
"Satin, look!" Cried Chenille. "There's a princess on the billboard!" The grey troll looked up to see a pink princess troll in a white dress knocking on a castle billboard across the street. Pretty lifelike these days, he thought. To his daughters he said,
"It's just an advertisement, now what I'm trying to say is-"
"No, she's really there!" Satin exclaimed. She and her sister took off across the deserted street.
"Hey!" yelled their father. "You two get back here! Satin! Chenille!" He ran after them, catching up beneath the ad. "Don't you ever do that again!"
"Listen, you can hear her voice!" the twins told him. By now he could hear the pink troll shouting,
"Hello? Please open the door!" Huh, guess she is real, the grey troll thought. But why is she up there?
"Hey!" he called up to her. "What are you doing up there?"
Startled, the 'princess' looked over her shoulder to see who had spoken. But she turned so quickly, she began to lose her balance on the platform.
Poppy waved her arms, trying to regain her balance, but it was no use. She tumbled backwards off the platform, just managing to grab on to the edge.
"Hang on!" the twin's father called to her, but Poppy could feel her fingers starting to tire. She lost her grip with her left hand, and then her right hand slipped-
"Catch her, Daddy!" Satin and Chenille yelled together as the pinkette fell off the platform altogether.
She landed on top of the grey troll with a loud "Oommff!", and they both crumpled to the ground.
"Ow!" her rescuer groaned as he helped her to her feet, his children rushing over to them. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine!" Poppy told them, out of breath from her landing. She noticed the twins staring at her, curiously.
"Hello." She said with a kind smile. "What are your names?"
"Now girls, you don't have to tell-"
"I'm Satin, and this is Chenille!" the little pink troll said, interrupting her dad.
"And is this your father?" Poppy asked, gesturing at the annoyed grey troll. The twins nodded. "What's his name?"
"Branch!" Satin and Chenille chorused together.
"Girls!" Branch scolded indignantly. The 7 year old twins smiled innocently at him. They knew exactly how to drive their father insane. Poppy giggled.
"What were you doing up there?" Chenille asked her.
"Well, I was looking for some help. I've been wandering very far tonight, trying to get home. I think I'm lost, and unfortunately no one's been very nice to me."
Branch snorted, massaging his sore arm. "Yeah, well, welcome to Bergen Town." He was surprised when Poppy gave him a beautiful smile.
"Thank you." She said gratefully. What? Branch thought. Does she not recognize sarcasm? His train of thought was interrupted when he heard his daughters asking the strange troll,
"Where are you going to sleep tonight?"
"I don't know." Poppy said sadly. "I have no idea when Creek's going to find me."
"Who's Creek, your boyfriend?" Branch asked, trying to disguise his curiosity. Lucky guy, he thought. Despite the fact that she was obviously extremely naïve and had no street smarts whatsoever, he had to admit that Poppy was beautiful.
"No, my true love!" Poppy replied happily. Oh great, Branch thought.
"Can she stay with us, Daddy?" Satin asked hopefully.
"Pleeaassee?" begged Chenille.
The grey troll thought for a moment. If you let a stranger into your house you are practically inviting calamity in and saying 'Make yourself at home!' It went against everything he stood for, everything he told his girls (not that they listened), but he found himself wanting to help her. He glanced over at the females and immediately regretted it. All three were giving him full blown puppy-dog eyes, but the only eyes he noticed were Poppy's. Her magenta eyes seemed to bore right into his soul, shining brighter than any stars in the sky. A crack of thunder overhead caught his attention. He glanced at the pink troll and sighed with defeat.
"Okay, come on."
"And then, the old hag to told me to close my eyes, lean in and make a wish," Poppy said, squeezing herself through a wooden gate into a small front yard with very few flowers. "But I must of leaned too far because I fell down a waterfall and climbed out of a square hole and got very lost. Then I fell off the castle and here I am-with you!" she squealed. Branch gave her a strange look.
"Is this a habit of yours?" he asked. "Falling off of things?" Poppy shrugged.
"Well, usually someone's there to catch me. But don't worry; I'm sure Creek's already searching for me. Soon he'll come and rescue me from this strange place, and we can share in true love's kiss." She sighed dreamily. Branch looked at her like she had two heads.
"True love's kiss?"
"It's the most powerful thing in the world." Poppy told him.
"Huh." Branch said, opening the front door of his house. Poppy followed the twins inside. Or at least, Poppy tried to follow them in. Her large hoop skirt was too wide to fit through the doorframe. "What is it with this dress of yours?" Branch griped.
Poppy smiled. "Oh, do you like it? I made it." Satin and Chenille gasped, as their father started to push the pink troll inside.
"You made it all by yourself?" Chenille gaped. She and her sister each pulled on one of Poppy's hands.
"Well, the ellors and colourflys did help with the sewing!"
"The what?" Branch questioned.
"Wow, they're good!" Satin commented. The pinkette grunted, not enjoying being yanked on. All of a sudden, there was a loud ripping sound, and Poppy tumbled forward, leaving her outer skirt wedged in the doorframe. She looked back at it and giggled, while Branch glared at her, not amused and already regretting his decision to let her in.
"Let's see about getting you a hotel room." He deadpanned.
Satin and Chenille rushed into their fathers room, wearing their pajamas, a short while later. "Can't she stay here, Daddy?" they pleaded.
"Absolutely not." The grey troll told them, pulling off his green vest and putting on his pajama top. The twins sighed in disappointment and wandered into the living room, where Poppy sat on the couch.
"Are you really a princess?" Satin asked hopefully. This troll looked just like the princesses in her favourite stories, especially in her fancy dress.
"Not yet," Poppy told her sleepily. "But I will be-soon." She yawned and closed her eyes, lying down completely on the couch. The twins pulled a blanket over her and went back to Branch.
"Wow, dad, she's really sleepy." Chenille told him.
"Oh,no." Branch groaned, rushing into the living room, Satin and Chenille right behind him. "That's not acceptable."
"Daddy, wait!" Satin cried.
"You're not really going to make her go, are you?" Chenille asked.
Branch sighed. "Look, I want you two to go to bed, alright?"
"But I think she might be a real princess!" Chenille protested.
"No, she's not!" Her father told her. "She's a very confused troll wearing a funny dress who might be dangerous to us."
"So you're not going to let her stay?" Satin said sadly.
"No." Branch shook his head. "Now go to bed. Goodnight, okay?" The two girls walked out of the room, feeling downcast. Chenille turned to look back her father.
"Mom would've let her stay." She said softly.
Branch looked after her, his eyes filled with pain. A soft sigh from the couch caused him to look in that direction. There Poppy lay, fast asleep, a gentle smile on her pink lips. Her sweet, peaceful expression sent a strange tugging sensation loose on his heart and he sighed. He couldn't bear to wake her. Branch backed quietly out of the room, a small smile playing on his face long after he had climbed into bed.
Aww... We get our first hints of Broppy! I loved writing this chapter, I think it's my favourite so far. Please review and favourite if you love it, too!